by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 22, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News
The St Regis Saadiyat has employed new staff in the battle against unsightly pigeon droppings – a full-time falconer and his birds.
Alex Louw flies his specially trained falcons on weekdays to ensure that about 300 pigeons that took residence at the five-star St Regis since it opened start looking for other, more hospitable dwellings.
To achieve this, the South African falconer flies his eight peregrine falcons, the natural prey of which are smaller birds.
“They don’t kill anything but I let the birds fly for hours a day, and over months they now see the hotel as their territory. Their presence alone deters the pigeons from being here,” Mr Louw said.
He will randomly select the birds on any given day so that the pigeons, which are quite smart birds, never feel like they have quite outsmarted the falcons.
The technique has achieved great results.
Marwan Fadel, a sales director at the St Regis, said within just a few months the island hotel went from 300 resident pigeons to fewer than 20 – results conventional methods failed to achieve.
“Since day one we’ve had a lot of pigeons and that means you’re dealing with a mess,” Mr Fadel said. “We tried lots of tools, such as spikes, and they weren’t working.”
Aside from creating an almost prison-like look, spikes on ridges, the most common deterrent for birds, simply do not work as pigeons will eventually find ways to build nests in between the points, and sometimes on top of them.
Gels, the other method, are environmental hazards that could be harmful to endangered animals’ ecosystem on the protected Saadiyat Island.
So they approached Mr Louw and told him of the problem. He began training birds, and tried out a dozen from his roster of 38 before he found the right ones.
“We couldn’t have them hunt the actual pigeons, despite it being the birds’ instinct we thought it wouldn’t be great if pigeons were being eaten by falcons in a family setting,” he said.
Mr Louw has been using falcons for bird control for 25 of his 40 years in falconry.
“It’s a very old idea. I used to do this 25 years ago in South Africa for the military,” he said. “They had problems with birds on the runways getting in engines of planes, and so we started a falconry project there and we saved them US$2 million (Dh7.34m) in the first year just in bird strikes.”
Mr Louw is passionate about falconry and gives guests at the hotel an introduction.
“After flying one of my birds, it sometimes takes me an hour to walk from the beach to my car because I get stopped so much,” he said. “And I love it. I carry extra gloves so that the kids, anyone really, can hold the falcons.”
Mr Louw has become a hotel attraction, and regular mention of him and his birds on Trip Advisor has been common among the hotel’s almost 2,000 reviews.
“It’s become a hotel attraction,” said Mr Fadel. “I think we’re really on to something.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 18, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
A HOUSING provider has bowed to pressure from local residents and agreed to take down an unpopular fence that is said to have converted a playground into a prison yard.
Local residents were at a loss to explain why The Guinness Partnership erected a three metre high fence, complete with sharp spikes, around a playground beside Mennaye Gardens and Forth Scol estate in Illogan.
The work started around three weeks ago and was completed at the end of last week.
It incited an angry response from local residents who said that it was dragging the name of the area through the mud.
Many of today’s greenest buildings are also some of the most beautifully designed
One of the residents, Sue Williams, said: “It looks like a prison exercise yard and nearly everyone I have spoken to has said what an eyesore it is and that it is not giving our estate a good name.
“Even the workmen erecting it said they think it is horrible and they wouldn’t send their children to this park.
“We want it back to how it was before with the nice ornate fencing that wasn’t damaged and was adequate enough.”
Samantha Eddy lives in a house that looks over the park.
“We back onto the park and I can see the new fence clearly from my house,” she said.
“It is an unsightly mess and there is no apparent reason why it has been built. We used to have problems with people drinking in the park but that was a long time ago now.”
Trina Knowles added: “It is intimidating and I don’t think my grandson wants to go into the park anymore.
“Apparently it is to stop rubbish and drinking in there but neither or those things have been a problem for a long time now.”
Shirley Paull went onto describe the structure as “disgusting” and said that the spikes on top are dangerous and could have disastrous consequences should children try and climb the fence.
After being contacted by the West Briton The Guinness Partnership has agreed to remove the fence.
A spokesperson for The Guinness Partnership said: “We erected the fence to address reports of anti-social behaviour that had been raised by our customers during estate inspections. However we completely accept the concerns that have been raised and have made arrangements for it to be taken down and stored for future use.
“We apologise for any upset this has caused, and we will continue to work with our customers over the next few weeks to listen to their views and find an alternative solution.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 13, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
What a police department does
It is a public expectation that the police will help citizens resolve the issues concerning them.
The Ontario Police Department, when receiving a call for service, a concern, or information, must objectively consider factors such as whether the issue fits within the scope of law enforcement duties, whether a concern is legitimate, and if there is any appropriate action that can be taken (to name a few).
The department also tries to take into account various circumstances bearing on any particular situation that might make it unique or that might justifiably change how it should be handled, all while striving to maintain fairness and objectivity.
In light of this, the Ontario Police Department, on behalf of the governing body and the citizens, is making the following public announcement.
The issue
Over the course of the last several months, multiple residents of the village have brought to the attention of the police department various concerns about cats throughout the village. It has become evident over time that there is a legitimate public interest regarding a substantial feral cat population within the village.
There are (conservatively estimated) 30-plus cats not appropriately cared for as pets within the village limits, as directly observed by police, and maybe many more,according to other estimates. The problems have included sick cats, including one that had diarrhea for months; cats leaving scat on private property/decks; cats digging in garbage; feral cats harassing pet cats (taking food, attacking and injuring the pet, etc.); and a cat severely biting a human; not to mention the various other annoyances any animal at large might pose, as you can well imagine.
Not least to mention is the warning given by veterinarians that an unmanaged feral cat population can become inbred, causing a low quality of life for the cats themselves. Of particular concern is the fact that a local veterinarian has documented two chronic, contagious, fatal diseases in cats from Ontario: feline leukemia and feline AIDS.
Why the police department is involved
This type of situation is not unique to Ontario, and various jurisdictions have unique ways of dealing with it. There is no animal control officer for cats in the village, many of the situations fall under village ordinances, the legitimacy of public concern has become obvious, and there is action that can be taken.
The Ontario Police Department is therefore acting in conjunction with other public officials and on behalf of the welfare of the public as it tries to address the situation comprehensively and efficiently.
How you can be a part
You can help! The most efficient way for the village to control the issue is with citizen cooperation, and we are asking for it now.
1) If you have a pet cat(s), please keep its location controlled (the same as you would a dog) and get it spayed or neutered. Unwanted kittens could potentially become part of a feral cat population.
2) If you don’t have a pet cat, please do not feed cats. Feeding stray cats contributes to,rather than alleviates, the problems. Consider the following clarification: Anyone feeding a cat regularly is claiming ownership under the village ordinances.
3) Take advantage of a low-cost cat clinic when it is offered in the village (watch the County Line for information on a clinic that will be offered later this spring). The clinic offers spay or neuter services at greatly reduced prices as well as vaccines.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 11, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services
City of Wichita Falls staff said there are no easy solutions when it comes to the pigeon infestation under the overpasses along Broad and Holliday streets.
“It is an infestation, that’s the only word for it. Just like rats or mice, they can be a problem when we see them in the volume that there are on Broad and Holliday,” John Burrus, Director of Aviation and Transportation said Friday.
Burrus said the large number of pigeons that gather under the overpasses has been an ongoing problem for more than a decade.
First, the city asked the Texas Department of Transportation to address the issues. TxDOT told the city that they were not equipped to handle the problem, Burrus said.
The next step was city council approval, several years ago, for “Slinky-like devices” that were supposed to keep the birds out, but Burrus said they did not work at all. Then, Burrus said he had his welding crew members attach metal barriers along the underside of the overpasses.
“The barriers helped some, but it did not slow it (the gathering of birds) down at all,” he said.
After that attempt, Burrus said they backed off the issue for a while until there started to be an increase in bird strike reports at Wichita Falls Regional Airport.
A bird weighing just a few ounces can destroy a jet engine, so the city needed to address the bird problem for the safety of pilots and passengers.
The city and Sheppard Air Force Base regularly pair to divvy up areas of the city in an effort to control bird problems. The downtown Holliday/Broad area falls under the duties of the city, but there were still no departments equipped to handle the situation.
The city has about 35-40 metal cage traps that are baited and placed near trouble areas including Broad/Holliday area, near the Jasper Water Treatment Plant, Kickapoo Airport, and near the Regional Airport.
For a short time, the fleet maintenance department was setting traps, gathering the trapped birds and euthanizing them by hand.
Soon it was obvious that the task was more than they could handle along with their other duties. The health department and animal control services were both also asked to assist, but again said they were not equipped to handle the situation.
Because the pigeon problem affected air travel, the burden was placed on Burrus’ department.
He said they contracted with two different pest control companies, but had “bad experiences” with both companies not checking the traps regularly and several birds died of dehydration.
“That was unacceptable. I think we (the city) do a much better job that the private companies. It is a fine balance between humanely handling the birds until they are euthanized,” Burrus said.
The city teamed with a new company, Pond Pest Control out of Amarillo, about a year ago for the pigeon situation and Burrus said they have been great to work with.
The city fully cleans out the underpasses twice a year and Burrus said they have cleared out 18-inch thick layers of pigeon feces, dead birds and all manner of health hazards.
Other nuisance birds like cattle egrets and grackles can be scared away or relocated, but Burrus said the pigeons do not scare easily and come right back to their roosting area when shooed away.
“No one wants to do it (trap and euthanize the pigeons), but it’s a necessary part of the job. If we do not take care of it, there are going to be much larger problems at the airport.
A secondary issue, but still a huge, huge issues is the health problems where the birds drop feces,” Burrus said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 8, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
The latest animal concerns have targeted skunks, which are far more populous in our area’s only city, especially in summer, than one would think.
The city had a $25,000 contract with a local man to provide animal control, including trapping and removing skunks. But as councilors prepared a tough 2016 budget, that funding was cut.
Resident Patti Hackett pointed out to councilors that about 70 skunks were captured in the city last year. She noted that skunks pose a rabies threat on top of the obvious irritation: the stink that prompts people to hold their breath and slam shut their windows. And dog owners can attest to the tenacity of that odor once it attaches to fur.
Improper garbage disposal is contributing to the problem of nuisance animals, and the city should clamp down on residents who don’t have trash secured in garbage cans with lids.
We aren’t suggesting fines; a city-sponsored education campaign, such as leaflets sent in the utility bills detailing the problems caused by exposed trash, could mitigate the problem.
The city is looking into a skunk-trapping campaign this spring. Some “lucky” crew could be paid around $10,000 to seek out known skunk dens and snag the creatures before they start breeding.
The Press-Republican believes that every community that has a fairly large population concentration should offer some kind of animal control.
Many towns contract with local animal shelters or have part-time officers or pay by the job to remove nuisance animals. A few wildlife rehabilitators help out with certain types of creatures.
Certainly a city the size of Plattsburgh can afford $25,000 for animal control in a $53.1 million budget. That amount is justified when measured against the service rendered — ask anyone who has watched a smelly skunk waddle through the back yard.
Maybe the city can share this service with the Town of Plattsburgh, whose residents are also in the line of spray.
But the most acute animal problem in larger communities is not the distinctively marked black and white invaders — it is feral cats.
Overrunning neighborhoods, getting into garbage and, most sadly, suffering starvation, exposure and sickness, wild cats present an overwhelming concern that few municipal governments are properly addressing.
Because shelters and a smattering of other aid programs exist, public officials act as though they are off the hook as cats continue to breed, live and die in corners of our neighborhoods.
It is inhumane to the cats and frustrating and heartbreaking for humans.
Every municipality with a population center, especially the City of Plattsburgh, should be investing in trap, neuter and release programs to reduce the feral-cat population.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 5, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
A new ban in this New Mexico city is ruffling a lot of feathers.
Carlsbad’s city council passed an ordinance prohibiting feeding pigeons, with punishments that could mean fines or even jail time.
The Cavern City blamed pigeons for spreading disease, damaging buildings and ruining outdoor experiences in the ordinance.
Many of the public health risks come from an abundance of pigeon droppings across the city.
The ban’s goal is to drive the pigeon population down by cutting off their food supply.
Pigeons have become a major issue for this New Mexico city, officials noted.
Pigeons have become a major issue for this New Mexico city, officials noted.
“It will help move them away from the city, move them out of the middle of this city,” Woods Hougton, program director for the Eddy Count Extension Office, told KRQE. “They’re called trash birds because they communicate a lot of known diseases to both livestocks and humans.”
The feeding ban will only apply to feral pigeons, as “domesticated birds used for recreation, racing, or show,” as well as injured pigeons being rehabilitated are excluded from the new ordinance.
Enthusiasts with feeders will be allowed to keep their birdhouses as well — as long as it doesn’t attract more pigeons.
While violating the feeding law can result in a harsh punishment, council members have said they hope it will not escalate to jail time.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
